Seriously struggling - any advice would be appreciated!

Meekie

Hi
I make yogurt in my slow cooker around once a week. It just takes a 4l bottle of milk and you get around 1l back of creamy yogurt quite similar to the greek style stuff in the shops. Do you have a slow cooker? If so I'll send you the recipe! I think you could also make it in a pan on the hob but you'd need to be more careful with timings and temperatures.
M

suki1964

Google making yoghurt in a flask. Plenty of tutorials. Borrow a flask to try it out first if you do t have one. Yoghurt really is easy to make, you don't need to buy those sachets

How many gym clothes do you actually need? I gather you go twice a day but surely three days worth of clothes is enough? Two days worth being washed and dried whilst you wear the third days?

When you work out a budget you need to factor in haircuts, entertainment ( that's hen weekends, nights out, books, cinema, everything ) and put aside that money every month. You need to work out car costs for the year, mot, servicing, repayments, petrol, and put that money aside every month

It's only when you have all those costs ( along with the usual rent, electric , gas, water, phone etc ) earmarked from your income do you have your food money and spending money left

That's when we have to make stark choices about what we can actually afford

That's how we on this board try to eat as healthily as we can for as little as we can so that we have the extra money for the little things that make life a bit more comfortable or for those of us who have enough clutter, to stash away into savings, be it for our old age, the world cruise, the new car, whatever

As you have identified already you spend a lot of income on protein shakes and snacks. Do you actually need a protein powder? Can that extra protein not come from eating a high protein diet? I'm no nutritionist nor a gym bunny, but I do remember seeing something on one of those types of programmes that protein from eggs,lentils and milk are more beneficial then a shake or even a steak. Perhaps you can do some research ? High energy bars are flapjacks, easy made at home and after the initial outlay of the added seeds and nuts , will be cheaper in the long run ( oats are oats be it budget or named brand, pound land do seeds and nut mixes, dried fruit is dried fruit)

The grocery bill is probably the only place you have wiggle room. There's a thread here on this board, how to feed a family of four for£20. Now that's too extreme for me, I feed three of us for an average of £35 a week and I have two big meat eaters to cater for. I'm also lucky that I can buy chicken really cheap, have my own supply of eggs and we do grow some veg, we eat a lot of cabbage, carrots and parsnips and sprouts as they are the only things we can grow up here . Boring but hey it's fresh veg

A single person could easily cut their bill down considerably just by changing the way they shop, perhaps changing the menu, and by meal planning.

Meal planning doesn't have to mean Monday is such and such, Tuesday such and such, set in stone, can't deviate My way of meal planning is taking stock of what's in the house already then planning around that, going to lidl , finding the best value protein source to supplement and building around that. Whatever perishables I buy have to be used in that week. So I might get a big cauliflower to go with Sunday dinner, the other half will be used either in a curry or Chinese style meal later in the week or served up with sausages or chops. It doesn't get to go soft, if it does, it's soup

It's hard to make your money fit the month. I remember being single living on my own and booking a holiday ( first ever) thinking well I'll not be home that week so I've that money for spending money, then the realisation that the rent and rates etc still had to be paid :eek: Was a wake up call for me. Since then I've always put something away for a rainy day - or a holiday

Hopefully this doesn't sound like a sermon. Hopefully after the shock of this month you will also feel more determined to get a grip of your income and get the best from it so you can get a safety net behind you and not have to use your cc

Stay posting

Meekie

Hi
I was thinking that if you make your own yogurt, then you drain off the whey which is a high protein fluid. I've never tried it but you could feasibly collect the whey and start to make your own protein shakes from that- much cheaper than anything bought and potentially nicer too with a bit of experimentation.

I agree with suki about meal planning. I only started to do this quite recently but have been amazed how well we have eaten and I haven't missed the spontaneity at all. It is already saving me hundreds of £ per month.

I lurk a bit in the 'not buying it" thread which you might find interesting too. It's a good reminder that we can be happy and fulfilled without spending money all the time. Good luck!

phizzimum

Well done LuckoftheIrish! I was wondering how you were getting on.

I find the envelope system works for me. I draw out cash at the start of the month and divide it up for diesel and each week's groceries. In the past I've had envelopes for haircuts, clothing etc. Even if I wasn't having my haircut that month I would put a bit aside to build up.

That way when I see my bank balance (which of course has immediately shrunk!) I know that everything else is covered.

phizzimum

Meekie wrote: »

Hi
I make yogurt in my slow cooker around once a week. It just takes a 4l bottle of milk and you get around 1l back of creamy yogurt quite similar to the greek style stuff in the shops. Do you have a slow cooker? If so I'll send you the recipe! I think you could also make it in a pan on the hob but you'd need to be more careful with timings and temperatures.
M

Could I have the recipe too, Meekie? I tried to make yog before in an Easy-yo it with little success.

determined_new_ms

there are loads of ways you can curb your spendy ways and still have (some) the things you want. Work out things that you really want and see if you can do them yourself or get them for less. Make your own yogurt with a slow cooker or a flask, it's super easy and cost pence. I strain mine for a few hours and then it's greek yogurt. You need muslin to strain it, but actually I got a scarf (kinda like cheese cloth) in a charity shop for 50p and use that. I use the whey in casseroles, curries, risottos etc to up the protein in meals and use less meat.

I love coffee so buy in decent fresh coffee and hot chocolate and have a mocca each day. I have a decent travel coffee mug so usually make it for when I'm leaving for work.

3 months ago I embarked on a "not buying anything new for a year" challenge. I'm not suggesting anyone else do this unless they feel inspired by it! But it's been very interesting to see there are some psychological factors at play with consumerism. I have had several days (maybe 4 over this period?) where I have felt dissatisfied with my clothes/things or last week I was feeling maybe what I am doing is wrong for our child. These were days where I could have easily gone and bought new clothes, but by this point I'm not really spending any time in shops so I haven't acted on it. This feeling often goes by the next day, or with the feeling last week within a couple of days. When this feeling/thought has gone I no longer feel dissatisfied with my clothes and no longer feel the need to get anything else. So the old adage of waiting a day or two for any purchases does work!

I also notice when I got paid on Thursday my automatic plan in my lunch break was to go into town and get some shampoo & conditioner that I have been recommended for curly hair. A couple of minutes into the walk I realised I didn't actually need to get these as I already have some at home! So I turned around and went for a walk instead. I guess what I'm trying to say is a lot of consumerist behaviours are on quite a deep subconscious level and it has only been by doing this challenge I have worked this out.

Work out what you really don't want to go without and make sure when you go shopping you get these things. I have a couple of months ago started shopping fortnightly instead of weekly, getting frozen veg/tinned fruit for the 2nd week, enough milk and bread and freezing and coffee. I find if I don't run out of these I'll pretty much go without or replace a missing item if needs be. This means I probably go into shops 2 or 3 times other than my fortnightly shop. If I don't go into shops I don't spend money and I'm not being bombarded with subconscious marketing which makes me spend more or feel dissatisfied and then spending more money!

Butterfly_Brain

You can make your own protein shakes using whey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-Q8FG6MoAc

I would stop buying new clothes for a while, that is not a monthly neccessity, make do with what you have for six months or more, only buy when you have to

When you go shopping recite Martin's mantra

Do I Need it or just want it, if it is not needed walk away

Have a look here for more great tips from Martin

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/cheap-supermarket-shopping

Do you buy coffee from a shop a sandwich, magazines etc? Write it down every day and you will see how much you are spending, cheaper to buy a flask and make your own lunch

If you are a Uni Student make the most of student discounts.

If you have a Morrisons close buy their loyalty card earns money that you get in coupons I have £50 towards Christmas in vouchers They have just started a student scheme that gives all students 10% off of their food shopping

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/shopping/2016/09/morrisons-first-big-four-supermarket-to-offer-10-discount-for-uni-students

And if you have a co-op card you get a 5% on all own brands

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/shopping/2016/09/co-op-members-to-earn-5-reward-on-own-brand-purchases

Hope this helps x

SailorSam

suki1964 wrote: »

When you work out a budget you need to factor in haircuts, e

Stay posting

I bought some of those electric hair trimmers and checked out videos on YouTube for how to use them ........ it's dead easy.
I've not had to pay for a haircut for over 18mths, they've well paid for themselves.

PasturesNew

SailorSam wrote: »

I've not had to pay for a haircut for over 18mths, they've well paid for themselves.

Also saved a fortune on going out ... as you can't leave the house until your hair grows back

luckofthe_irish

Meekie wrote: »

Hi
I was thinking that if you make your own yogurt, then you drain off the whey which is a high protein fluid. I've never tried it but you could feasibly collect the whey and start to make your own protein shakes from that- much cheaper than anything bought and potentially nicer too with a bit of experimentation.

I agree with suki about meal planning. I only started to do this quite recently but have been amazed how well we have eaten and I haven't missed the spontaneity at all. It is already saving me hundreds of £ per month.

I lurk a bit in the 'not buying it" thread which you might find interesting too. It's a good reminder that we can be happy and fulfilled without spending money all the time. Good luck!

Thank you so much for this idea - I never knew it was possible to make yogurt in a slow cooker but I was so excited to hear this that I have my first batch cooking as I type! I will let you know how I get on with it. I bought cheesecloth to strain it today nice and cheaply so I am hoping it will turn out well, and great idea about using the whey in my smoothies!

I couldn't fit the full amount of milk I bought in my slow cooker so I am just going to freeze what is leftover and save it for the next time I make yogurt (if I manage it!)!:T